Name:
Laura Berry
Began working at Blessings International:
February 2016
Role:
Vice President Strategic Development
If you had to compare yourself to a TV-show character, who would you be, and why?
Since it feels like I haven’t watched television since the '70s, this question is a stretch for me. Speaking of the '70s, nothing says good television like an episode of Charlie’s Angels. If I had to identify with one “angel,” it would be Sabrina Duncan. Sabrina is a loyalist and an investigator who is not afraid to consider all the angles. She is the pragmatic and analytical member of the trio. Sabrina serves as a clever professional, a more strategic thinker than the other angels. Unlike the other angels, Sabrina uses her brain during various operations (LOL! Remember Farrah Fawcett?)
Describe the part you play at Blessings:
My role at Blessings International is to create programs, develop concepts, implement strategies, and promote Blessings International during different forums. My role is constantly contemplating questions such as, “What are we missing,” "Who is out there that shares our mission," "How can we distinguish ourselves," and, "How can we broaden our reach to bring healing and hope to the most vulnerable patients worldwide?”
What is your favorite aspect of your job?
Creating, examining, and analyzing potential solutions to help Blessings International reach more people with quality medicines, vitamins, and supplies. Also, I love the leadership team at Blessings and their willingness to innovate and bring new services to our partners. Finally, I count it a tremendous honor to learn from and be part of an organization that cares deeply and intentionally about regulatory and compliance in pharmaceutical distribution. Knowing that the most vulnerable patients can count on quality medicines from Blessings International brings me tremendous joy and thankfulness.
Where have you served in a missional capacity?
South Dallas charitable clinic, Zambia, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Where/How would you like to serve in the future?
I love the warmth of the people of Guatemala. I love their collectivistic culture. Everyone is truly looking out for their neighbor. Also, I would love to go to Ghana as I have had the privilege to serve on the board for an organization called Amani Medical Foundation that is dedicated to bringing quality healthcare to the women and children of Ghana.
What was your last staff devotional about?
After contemplating all the changes and challenges during COVID-19, my recent devotional was on Hebrews 10:19-25. The superiority of Christ and His promise of salvation leads to encouragement and perseverance in our faith. Our faith endures through hope and there are three specific exhortations for believers. The first exhortation is the full assurance of faith. We have been made whole through Jesus’ atonement for our sins. The second exhortation is a reminder that He who has been faithful will continue His work in and through us. Finally, the last exhortation is a call to love and serve others. We are in an unprecedented time in history, and we are called to lift up the weary, vulnerable, and discouraged and remind them that God loves them deeply.
What is your best memory here at Blessings?
There are so many terrific memories that have taken place at Blessings over the years, but no memory outshines the time we surprised our CEO, Barry with Buddy the Elf. We were having our annual Christmas party and the staff thought it would be funny to hire a Buddy the Elf to basically pester Barry during the entire party. Boy, this actor played his part well. He called Barry “Dad” and used all the lines from the movie Elf. During lunch he repeated, "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." I had the fortunate opportunity to sit next to him and you would have thought we were physically at the North Pole with all the references to Santa and his elves. After he each story, he would repeat, "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite."
